Publication Details
On the sources of vegetation activity variation, and their relation with water balance in Mexico
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Year Published
1998
Publication
International Journal of Remote Sensing. 19(10): 1843-1871.
Abstract
Natural landscape surface processes are largely controlled by the relationship between climate and vegetation. Water balance integrates the effects of climate on patterns of vegetation distribution and productivity, and for that season, functional relationships can be established using water balance variables as predictors of vegetation response. In this study, we evaluate, at the country and ecoregion level of analysis, the relationships between indicators of vegetation productivity and seasonality with several water balance variables. Vegetation indicators were derived from multitemporal analysis of satellite images, and water balance variables were obtained from ground meteorological station data. Spatial and temporal variation of climate and vegetation were evaluated with remote sensing and GIs technology, and empirical relationships were evaluated statistically via regression models. Significant non-linear relationships were established for vegetation productivity, precipitation, and actual evapotranspiration at the country level in Mexico, where the landscape is represented by a wide diversity of ecosystems. Variation of vegetation patterns of productivity and seasonality is explained less at the ecoregion scale relative to the country level, but water balance variables still account for ~50% of variation in vegetation.
Citation
Mora, F.; Iverson, L.R. 1998. On the sources of vegetation activity variation, and their relation with water balance in Mexico. International Journal of Remote Sensing. 19(10): 1843-1871. https://doi.org/10.1080/014311698215027.